LOUISVILLE, Ky. –– On a night when the spotlight was on one prospect, it was the prospects that were already with the Columbus Clippers that led their comeback against the Louisville Bats. The Clippers defeated the Bats 8-5 on Friday night at Louisville Slugger Field sending the Clippers into a first place tie with Indianapolis, who lost to Charlotte on Friday night and Louisville to their eighth consecutive loss.

Carlos Moncrief grounded a single to right field to drive in the go-ahead run in the seventh inning. The Clipper put pressure on Louisville with back-to-back singles by Tyler Holt and the debuting top prospect Francisco Lindor against Louisville reliever Adam Russell (2-2, 4.59 ERA). It was Lindor’s first career hit and it came after a ten pitch battle. After Lindor stole second, Louisville elected to walk Jesus Aguilar to load the bases.Giovanny Urshela battled to a 2-2 count before Russell hit him in the lower back to drive in the tying run.

Louisville went to a left-hander, Ryan Dennick, to face Carlos Moncrief. Coming into the game, Moncrief bats slightly better against lefties than he does against righties (.265 vs. .262). He grounded one through the hole between first and second to bring home Lindor and give the Clippers the lead.

Moncrief tripled in the first run for the Clippers in the second inning to give the Clippers an early 1-0 lead. He finished with three hits in four at-bats with two RBI and a walk.

Giovanny Urshela also collected three hits, including a double and two RBI.

Kyle Davies (6-7, 4.06 ERA) started for the Clippers and pitched with runners on base most of the night. Louisville collected 11 hits off Davies, as well as a pair of walks. But Davies coaxed the Bats into four groundball double plays over the course of his 6.2 innings. He allowed four runs over the course of his outing thanks to four groundball double plays turned by the combination of Lindor, Audy Ciriaco and Jesus Aguilar.

Austin Adams pitched the ninth inning for his third save of the year. He struck out one batter.

The Clippers play at Louisville on Wednesday at 7:05 p.m. in what will be the third game of a four game series.

NOTES

Jose Ramirez was in the original lineup, leading off and playing second base, but was scratched before the game. Tyler Holt batted first and was the designated hitter. The original designated hitter, Audy Ciriaco, played second base.

Josh Smith started for Louisville and pitched six innings and allowed three runs on seven hits and a pair of walks with four strikeouts. His team had the lead when he left the game.

Tyler Cloyd (8-5, 4.10 ERA) will start for the Clippers on Wednesday. Because of the shifting rotation, Cloyd will start on short rest. He last pitched on Friday night and gave up three runs over six innings of the Clippers 5-4 win over Indianapolis.

Cloyd has two starts against Louisville this season. Last time, he went the distance giving up three solo home runs in the Clippers 19-3 win on May 31. His ERA against Louisville is 1.59 over 17 innings this season.

Michael Rich is a senior majoring in Communications at The Ohio State University.

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